“Where’s my manual?” she asked as she approached the desk. “I’m
sorry? What manual? I responded. “This paper says if I pray this
prayer I’ll get a manual. I prayed the prayer, so where is my
manual?” She held a gospel tract in her hand. “Let me see that.” I
took the tract from her hand. The tract offered a manual for life
to anyone who prayed the sinner’s prayer and received Christ as
their... Read More »

When Michael W. Smith sits down at the piano, as he did at the
recent 2012 Star of Hope
Banquet - Above All, you get more than a great performance; you
get the feeling that you are in the company of a gentleman and a
friend. That said, on the evening of February 2nd, the Lanier Ballroom
at the Hilton Americas was transformed into a glorious sanctuary
where the theme of the program: Above All... Read More »

That’s the question we are all asking, isn’t it? And when we
consider that for our homeless men, women and children in Houston,
we know that “2012 will be a year of significantly more needs to be
met.”Star of Hope has always been on the
cutting edge of ministry to the homeless. Over the past 105 years
of service there have been three distinct transitions in the
homeless need: Serving men-only for... Read More »

About two months ago, an 11 year old girl named Faith arrived at
Star of Hope's downtown Women
& Family Emergency Shelter with her grandmother. She was
quiet, polite and read during her free time. Soon, Faith was
invited to attend Summer Camp where she experienced a week of
freedom from her difficult family life in the Piney Woods of East
Texas. She opened up and had such a great time! One night... Read More »

How many times have we prayed for God to use us…to send us. Now we
are just waiting…waiting. Still, 5 years later we are waiting for
God to tell us where we are needed, patiently waiting for God to
buy a plane ticket to where we need to go to be of help. I have
been told that unless God is specifically telling you no he
undoubtedly is telling you yes: go, make the bed, help by cleaning
the floors,... Read More »

Not only do Star of Hope Alumni
(ACTS - Alumni in Community, Transformation &
Service) return to the campus to serve and give back, they
build relationships and enhance the spiritual life of programmers
in a number of ways off campus as well. Alumni conduct
weekend spiritual retreat camps. They organize many types of
fellowships such as bowling fund raisers, acts of service outings,
and sporting... Read More »

The Star of Hope Men’s Development
Center hosted their Annual Alumni Fellowship Celebration on
Saturday June 25, 2011. This is a time when the Star of Hope (SOH)
staff celebrates their appreciation for and demonstrates their love
towards the alumni by sprucing up the place, preparing a delicious
full course meal, sharing surprise gifts and cranking up some high
praise and worship in Christ's Name.... Read More »

June 6, 2011, marked the official Third Year Anniversary of
Star of
Hope's New Horizons program. We moved in the first FIVE
clients on June 6, 2008. While none of those clients remain
in the program today--several left successfully before completing
the entire 3 year program--there are a few in their third year now.
Sandra is excited about her future...she is working for Goodwill
Industries and... Read More »

Congratulations and many blessings to our graduates, parents, and
supporters of our children. I would like to encourage parents and
supporters to continue praying for, paving the way, and providing
for our children’s academic pursuits and career advancements. As we
strive to achieve excellence in academics and for the perfect
vocation, let us always seek God first and His righteousness... Read More »

You may have seen the story "Homeless
Population Keeps Increasing" in the Houston Chronicle this
week, the results of the 2011 Homeless Count for our city. It's no
surprise to me that the number of homeless people in Houston has
risen by 25% in just one year.If you've been following my blog the
past two years, you know that Star of Hopehas served record crowds since 2009, with the greatest... Read More »

I wanted to tell you about
Charity Navigator, a national nonprofit rating
service. They take nonprofit tax returns (Form 990) and
calculate 9 factors which give an overall rating as to the
effectiveness of the nonprofit. They have incorporated
written reviews which have been posted by those who feel that
the nonprofit is especially effective. Star of Hope now has a
“three star” rating (out of... Read More »

Myron and I were frantically looking for the teens to take them on
an outing. Because of the time strain, we tried to leave earlier
than the time on the permission slips. To our surprise, we could
only get a handful of teens, because about 9 teens were
pre-occupied – with serving in the kitchen! The serving line and
dishwashers…full of teens serving the guests with smiles on their
faces! Then... Read More »

Mother’s Day is coming up next week…Sunday, May 8th! In preparation
for that, one of my favorite events for our children here at
Star of Hope is being held next
week at our Transitional
Living Center, for all of our client’s children. It’s a fun
afternoon hosted by Trees of
Hope, our affiliate which has been serving Star of Hope for
over 20 years now.After school, all the kids will gather in... Read More »

“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also
ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example,
that ye should do as I have done to you.” -- John 13:14-15
Last week I came into work like I always do on a typical Thursday.
As the time rolled around for the teens to return from school,
Dominck Mancuso came through my door. This surprised me a little
bit because... Read More »

Imagine being two years behind in school and never knowing if you
be able to return to the same school the next day, the next
semester or the next year. This is a reality some this year's
graduates have faced. We constantly have teens who stay with us who
are two years behind. That is sometimes heartbreaking.But this year
we have FOUR teens to get accepted into college. Reva is going
University of... Read More »

It is a humbling experience to be at the mercy of others during a
time of injury, illness or their need. And, that is exactly what I
am facing. As Director of Star of Hope's New
Horizons Program, I get to minister to the needs of others
every day. I have the privilege of encouraging others in times of
worry/distress and times of achievement/success. I also get
to pray with others on a daily basis... Read More »

It is a call every parent dreads...a call that your child has been
hurt and is in the hospital.Well, these clients are certainly not
my children--many of them would cringe at the thought!! But, as I
interact with them, pray for/with them, share their struggles and
cheer their achievements--I feel much like a parent.On
Saturday, March 5th, I was told that one of the Star of Hope Mission - New
Horizo...Read More »

He left the office with his two framed photos and an envelope of
pictures...the only tangible memories of a year-long relationship
with the woman he hoped to marry one day.Back-story: I read an
email one time:"Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about
a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to
find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child
whose... Read More »

The Bible says that the Messiah will "turn the hearts of the
fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their
fathers" (Malachi 4:6). At the Star of Hope Men's
Development Center we teach our men that there is
a galactic difference between paternity and fatherhood.
Paternity requires no relationship and no sacrifice. Fatherhood
does. Paternity is the compromise of the Godless.... Read More »